EXHAUST GAS AFTERTREATMENT SYSTEM, AND INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE WITH EXHAUST GAS AFTERTREATMENT SYSTEM

Abstract

An exhaust gas aftertreatment system with an exhaust gas inlet, at least two exhaust gas aftertreatment elements, and a flow chamber. The exhaust gas inlet, the at least two exhaust gas aftertreatment elements, and the flow chamber are arranged relative to one another and fluidically connected together such that exhaust gas flowing through the exhaust gas inlet into the flow chamber can be distributed to the at least two exhaust gas aftertreatment elements. The exhaust gas passes through at least one first of the at least two exhaust gas aftertreatment elements along a first flow direction, and the exhaust gas passes through at least one second of the at least two exhaust gas aftertreatment elements along a second flow direction, wherein the first flow direction and the second flow direction are oriented at least diagonally to each other, preferably anti-parallel to each other.

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. An exhaust gas aftertreatment system, comprising: an exhaust gas inlet; at least two exhaust gas aftertreatment elements; and a flow guiding chamber, wherein the exhaust gas inlet, the at least two exhaust gas aftertreatment elements and the flow guiding chamber are arranged relative to one another and fluid-connected to one another so that exhaust gas flowing through the exhaust gas inlet into the flow guiding chamber is dividable between the at least two exhaust gas aftertreatment elements, wherein the exhaust gas passes through at least a first of the at least two exhaust gas aftertreatment elements along a first direction of flow, wherein the exhaust gas passes through at least a second of the at least two exhaust gas aftertreatment elements along a second direction of flow, wherein the first direction of flow and the second direction of flow are oriented at least obliquely to one another.

12. The exhaust gas aftertreatment system according to claim 11, wherein the first direction of flow and the second direction of flow are anti-parallel to one another.

13. The exhaust gas aftertreatment system according to claim 11, wherein the at least two exhaust gas aftertreatment elements have in each case an exhaust gas inlet facing the flow guiding chamber, wherein a first exhaust gas inlet of a first exhaust gas aftertreatment element is arranged on a first side of the flow guiding chamber, wherein a second exhaust gas inlet of a second exhaust gas aftertreatment element is arranged on a second side of the flow guiding chamber opposite the first side.

14. The exhaust gas aftertreatment system according to claim 11, further comprising an exhaust gas aftertreatment container which has the exhaust gas inlet, the at least two exhaust gas aftertreatment elements and the flow guiding chamber.

15. The exhaust gas aftertreatment system according to claim 14, wherein the at least two exhaust gas aftertreatment elements are arranged in at least one interchangeable plug-in module in the exhaust gas aftertreatment container.

16. The exhaust gas aftertreatment system according to claim 14, wherein the exhaust gas aftertreatment container has at least one interchangeable plug-in module which has the at least two exhaust gas aftertreatment elements which are arranged spaced apart from one another, as seen in a longitudinal direction of the interchangeable plug-in module, wherein the interchangeable plug-in module has an inflow chamber that is open at an edge in regions between the exhaust gas aftertreatment elements.

17. The exhaust gas aftertreatment system according to claim 14, wherein the exhaust gas aftertreatment container has at least two interchangeable plug-in modules, wherein the at least one interchangeable plug-in module has precisely one exhaust gas aftertreatment element.

18. The exhaust gas aftertreatment system according to claim 14, wherein the exhaust gas aftertreatment container has plug-in receivers for interchangeable plug-in modules on precisely one outer wall or on two opposing outer walls.

19. The exhaust gas aftertreatment system according to claim 11, wherein at least one exhaust gas aftertreatment element of the at least two exhaust gas aftertreatment elements is formed as an SCR catalytic converter, wherein a metering device for a reducing agent is assigned to the exhaust gas inlet.

20. The exhaust gas aftertreatment system according to claim 14, further comprising a mixing chamber arranged outside the exhaust gas aftertreatment container upstream of the exhaust gas inlet, wherein the mixing chamber is in fluid connection with the exhaust gas inlet, wherein a) a metering device for reducing agent is assigned to the mixing chamber, and/or wherein b) the mixing chamber has a cylindrical form and a tangentially oriented inlet opening as well as an axial exhaust gas outlet opening, and/or wherein c) the mixing chamber has a swirl generation device for generation of a swirl in the exhaust gas flow which passes through the mixing chamber.

21. An internal combustion engine, comprising an exhaust gas aftertreatment system according to claim 11.

Description

[0037] The invention is explained in greater detail below on the basis of the drawing. In the drawing

[0038] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a first exemplary embodiment of an internal combustion engine with an exhaust gas aftertreatment system;

[0039] FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of a second exemplary embodiment of an exhaust gas aftertreatment system, and

[0040] FIG. 3 shows a further representation of the second exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 2.

[0041] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a first exemplary embodiment of an internal combustion engine 1 with an exhaust gas aftertreatment system 3, wherein an engine block 5 of internal combustion engine 1 has an exhaust gas outlet 7 which is in fluid connection with an exhaust gas inlet 9 of exhaust gas aftertreatment system 3. Exhaust gas aftertreatment system 3 has at least two exhaust gas aftertreatment elements 11, 13, wherein the exemplary embodiment represented here has a total of eight exhaust gas aftertreatment elements 11, 13, of which only four are represented in the longitudinal sectional view represented in FIG. 1. Of these, in turn only two exhaust gas aftertreatment elements 11, 13 are discussed in detail below because precisely the same mode of operation is apparent for all different exhaust gas aftertreatment elements 11, 13 and in this regard only a multiplication of the concept and the mode of operation of exhaust gas aftertreatment system 3 is produced.

[0042] Exhaust gas aftertreatment system 3 furthermore has a flow guiding chamber 15.

[0043] Exhaust gas inlet 9, the at least two exhaust gas aftertreatment elements 11, 13 and flow guiding chamber 15 are arranged relative to one another and fluid-connected to one another such that exhaust gas flowing through exhaust gas inlet 9 into flow guiding chamber 15 is divided between the at least two exhaust gas aftertreatment elements 11, 13, wherein the exhaust gas passes through a first exhaust gas aftertreatment element 11 of the at least two exhaust gas aftertreatment elements 11, 13 along a first direction of flow, from left to right in FIG. 1, wherein the exhaust gas passes through at least a second exhaust gas aftertreatment element 13 of the at least two exhaust gas aftertreatment elements 11, 13 along a second direction of flow, from right to left in FIG. 1, wherein the first direction of flow and the second direction of flow are oriented in an antiparallel manner here, i.e. opposite to one another.

[0044] The exhaust gas flowing into flow guiding chamber 15 is therefore partially deflected and guided back here counter to the direction of inward flow through second exhaust gas aftertreatment element 13, wherein a different part of the exhaust gas passes through first exhaust gas aftertreatment element 11 substantially in the direction of inward flow.

[0045] As a result of the concept proposed here, a catalytic converter volume of exhaust gas aftertreatment elements 11, 13 can be increased, in particular doubled, without a pressure loss via exhaust gas aftertreatment elements 11, 13 increasing. On the contrary, the incoming flow surface of exhaust gas aftertreatment elements 11, 13 is increased overall, in particular doubled, in a very efficient manner.

[0046] Exhaust gas inlet 9 is in fluid connection here with flow guiding chamber 15 via an exhaust gas guiding pipe 17, wherein exhaust gas aftertreatment elements 11, 13 have in each case an exhaust gas inlet 19, 21 facing flow guiding chamber 15, wherein a first exhaust gas inlet 19 is arranged on one side of flow guiding chamber 15, and wherein a second exhaust gas inlet 21 is arranged on a second side of flow guiding chamber 15 opposite the first side.

[0047] Exhaust gas aftertreatment system 3 has an exhaust gas aftertreatment container 23 which itself has exhaust gas inlet 9, exhaust gas aftertreatment elements 11, 13 and flow guiding chamber 15.

[0048] In the case of the exemplary embodiment represented here, exhaust gas aftertreatment container 23 has a multiplicity of interchangeable plug-in modules 25, wherein in each case two exhaust gas aftertreatment elements are arranged in an interchangeable plug-in module 25, namely spaced apart from one another, as seen in the longitudinal direction of interchangeable plug-in module 25, wherein interchangeable plug-in modules 25 have in each case an inflow chamber 27 which is open at the edge in regions between exhaust gas aftertreatment elements 11, 13. Inflow chamber 27 is in fluid connection with flow guiding chamber 15 in the mounted state of interchangeable plug-in module 25. In particular interchangeable plug-in module 25 is arranged in exhaust gas aftertreatment container 23 in such a manner that inflow chamber 27 is arranged in flow guiding chamber 15.

[0049] Exhaust gas aftertreatment container 23 has here installation receivers 29 on precisely one and only one side or on precisely one and only one outer wall 31.

[0050] Exhaust gas aftertreatment container 23 furthermore has two separate outlet chambers 33, 35, wherein exhaust gas, which has flowed through first exhaust gas aftertreatment elements 11, reaches first outlet chamber 33 and wherein exhaust gas, which has flowed through second exhaust gas aftertreatment elements 13, reaches second outlet chamber 35. An exhaust gas outlet 37, 39 is assigned to each outlet chamber 33, 35, wherein exhaust gas can escape from first outlet chamber 33 through first exhaust gas outlet 37, wherein exhaust gas can escape from second outlet chamber 35 through second exhaust gas outlet 39 from exhaust gas aftertreatment container 23.

[0051] Exhaust gas aftertreatment container 23 furthermore has an integrated mixing chamber 41 which is assigned here to exhaust gas inlet 9 as a tangential inflow opening, wherein exhaust gas guiding pipe 17 opens into integrated mixing chamber 41, wherein the exhaust gas can flow through bores, which are open at the edge, of exhaust gas guiding pipe 17 into this, and wherein exhaust gas guiding pipe 17 is configured here as an axial exhaust gas outlet opening for integrated mixing chamber 41.

[0052] Here, two metering devices 43 for a reducing agent are assigned to integrated mixing chamber 41, by which metering devices 43 a reducing agent or a reducing agent precursor product, in particular a urea/water solution, can be metered into integrated mixing chamber 41. Exhaust gas aftertreatment elements 11, 13 are corresponding preferably formed as SCR catalytic converters.

[0053] The following flow of the exhaust gas through exhaust gas aftertreatment container 23 is produced overall: the exhaust gas flows through exhaust gas inlet 9 into integrated mixing chamber 41 and is mixed there with the reducing agent. It now flows radially into exhaust gas guiding pipe 17 and through it into flow guiding chamber 15. It is divided there between exhaust gas aftertreatment elements 11, 13, wherein it is divided in particular into directions of flow oriented in an antiparallel manner to one another. It passes from exhaust gas aftertreatment elements 11, 13 into outlet chambers 33, 35 and from there via exhaust gas outlets 37, 39 out of exhaust gas aftertreatment container 23.

[0054] FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of a second exemplary embodiment of exhaust gas aftertreatment system 3. Identical elements and elements with identical functions are provided with the same reference numbers, hence reference is made to the above description. Exhaust gas aftertreatment container 23 has here a multiplicity of interchangeable plug-in modules 25, wherein each of interchangeable plug-in modules 25 has precisely one and only one exhaust gas aftertreatment element 11, 13. Plug-in receivers 29 for interchangeable plug-in modules 25 are correspondingly provided on exhaust gas aftertreatment container 23 on two opposite sides, in particular on two opposite outer walls 31, 31 of exhaust gas aftertreatment container 23. Interchangeable plug-in modules 25, which have exhaust gas aftertreatment elements 11, 13 which are assigned to one another in pairs and are in particular arranged opposite one another, are therefore plugged in from opposite sides into exhaust gas aftertreatment container 23, wherein they open into flow guiding chamber 15 and are opposite one another there. This improves a sealing of exhaust gas aftertreatment container 23 and leads to it having a shorter design.

[0055] Exhaust gas guidance pipe 17 is integrated fixedly here into exhaust gas aftertreatment container 23, wherein exhaust gas inlet 9 is provided directly on exhaust gas guiding pipe 17.

[0056] The second exemplary embodiment, represented here, of exhaust gas aftertreatment system 3 has a separate mixing chamber 45 which is arranged externally of and outside exhaust gas aftertreatment container 23, is arranged upstream of exhaust gas inlet 9 and is in fluid connection thereto. Here, two metering devices 43 for a reducing agent or a reducing agent precursor product, in particular for a urea/water solution, are assigned to mixing chamber 45.

[0057] Mixing chamber 45 has a cylindrical, oblate form, wherein it has a round, in particular circular cross-section. It furthermore has a tangentially oriented exhaust gas inlet opening 47 as well as an axially oriented exhaust gas outlet opening 49 which is connected to exhaust gas inlet 9. Exhaust gas flowing into mixing chamber 45 tangentially through exhaust gas inlet opening 47 is thus brought into a circular or substantially circular flow which is expedient for mixing and evaporation of the reducing agent with and in the exhaust gas. Axial exhaust gas outlet opening 49 is part of an outlet pipe 51 which extends axially into mixing chamber 45 and in this has a multiplicity of recesses which are open at the edge and through which the exhaust gas can flow in the radial direction into outlet pipe 51 and can be deflected there in the axial direction in order to finally leave mixing chamber 45 via outlet pipe 41 in the axial direction.

[0058] The mixing chamber is, in particular as a result of its cylindrical configuration, preferably rotatable about its axial direction which significantly facilitates its installation and in particular its fastening to an internal combustion engine. As a result of this, this can be matched in particular in a simple manner to an outlet of an exhaust gas turbocharger housing on the internal combustion engine without the need for a modification of the arrangement of the exhaust gas turbocharger housing or intermediate pipework.

[0059] FIG. 3 shows a second view of the second exemplary embodiment of exhaust gas aftertreatment system 3 according to FIG. 2. Identical elements and elements with identical functions are provided with the same reference numbers so that in this regard reference is made to the above description. It is represented in FIG. 3 that mixing chamber 45 has a swirl-generation device 53 for generating a swirl in the exhaust gas flow, wherein the swirl-generation device preferably has at least one swirl plate 55. The generation of a swirl in the exhaust gas flow has in particular advantages in terms of a as homogeneous as possible distribution of the reducing agent and its efficient evaporation in the exhaust gas flow.

[0060] It is also apparent in FIG. 3 that folding bellows 57 for compensating tolerances, vibrations and/or thermal expansion can be arranged between mixing chamber 45 and exhaust gas aftertreatment container 23.

[0061] The second exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 2 and 3 furthermore has the advantage that exhaust gas aftertreatment container 23 only has to be configured and constructed once for a plurality of different internal combustion engines, wherein it can then be combined with different mixing chambers 45.

[0062] Vice versa, mixing chamber 45 can alternatively or additionally be configured and constructed for a plurality of internal combustion engines 1, wherein this can then be combined with a plurality of different exhaust gas aftertreatment containers 23.

[0063] It has been shown overall that in particular a catalytic converter volume can be significantly increased without pressure loss or in the case of low pressure loss by means of exhaust gas aftertreatment system 3 proposed here and internal combustion engine 1, wherein, in particular as a result of the concept, an enlarged incoming flow surface, preferably a doubled incoming flow surface, is provided.